JP2004201838A - Massage machine equipped with air heating means - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to perform a heating air massage effectively wrapping the girth of the leg of the human body. <P>SOLUTION: Paired air bags 1 to be attached to both sides of the leg B of the human body A and an air pump 2 to expand and contract the paired air bags 1 by pumping in and out of the air are disposed in a massage machine 3 equipped with a heating member 4 to heat the air to be supplied to the paired air bags 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a massage machine having a means for massaging a leg of a human body by pressing an air bag inflated and contracted by supply and discharge of air.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a chair-type air massage device provided with an air bag that inflates and contracts the air bag by changing the air pressure of the air bag to stimulate the human body, a heating device is provided in a path to be supplied to the air bag, and air is supplied. There is known a device in which heated air is supplied to a bag to perform air massage by heating stimulation. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
In the conventional example shown in Patent Literature 1, substantially elliptical cylindrical air bags that are long in the width direction of the chair are respectively provided on the backrest, buttocks, and feet of the chair in the longitudinal direction of the chair. In particular, since a long air bag is also juxtaposed also in the width direction in the foot portion, when a person sitting on a chair puts the leg of the human body on the foot and performs air massage with the air bag, Only the back side of the leg is heated and air-massed by the expansion and contraction of the air bag due to the supply of heated air.
[0003]
However, in this conventional example, only the back surface of the leg of the human body is heated and air-massed, so that the side and the front portion including the air-massed portion of the leg are not heated. However, in order to improve blood flow by heating, it is effective to heat the legs from the surroundings.However, in the above-described conventional example, air massage is performed while wrapping the legs and heating the legs from the surroundings. Therefore, there was a problem that the air massage effect by heating could not be sufficiently exerted.
[0004]
There is also known a bedding having an air massage function in which warm air is supplied to an air bag for performing an air massage. (For example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3)
Also in the beddings disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, when a person sleeps on the bedding, only the back of the leg portion of the person is heated, and therefore, the air massage effect by heating is also obtained in this case. However, there was a problem that it was not able to fully demonstrate.
[0005]
Also, in any of the above conventional examples, there is no air storage tank for storing air discharged from the air bag, and the high-temperature air stored in the air storage tank is effectively reused as air to be supplied to the air bag. However, there is a problem in that heat is reused, and there is a problem in that energy costs are increased.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-120618 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-7-204244 [Patent Document 2]
JP 10-118145 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to effectively perform a heated air massage by wrapping around the legs of a human body from the surroundings, and to effectively use heat of high-temperature air discharged from an air bag. It is an object of the present invention to provide a massage machine having an air heating device that can be reused.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a massage machine provided with an air heating device according to the present invention comprises a pair of air bladders 1 in contact with both sides of a leg B of a human body A and a pair of air bladders 1. A massage machine 3 having an air pump 2 for expanding and contracting by supply and discharge of air is provided with a heating section 4 for heating air supplied to a pair of air bags 1. With such a configuration, the leg (one leg) B of the human body A is positioned between the paired air bladders 1, and the air heated by the heating unit 4 is supplied to the paired air bladders 1. The body is inflated and the leg B of the human body A is compressed by the inflated air bag 1 from both sides to perform air massage from both sides. In this case, the leg B is wrapped in the air bag 1 on both sides heated by the heated air. The leg part to be air-massed as it is rarely heated from the surroundings, so that the air-massage can be performed while improving the blood flow in the air-massed leg part.
[0009]
Further, it is preferable to provide the heating unit 4 between the air bag 1 and the air pump 2. With such a configuration, the heated air is supplied to the air bladder 1 without directly passing through the air pump 2, and does not affect the driving unit of the air pump 2 due to heat.
[0010]
Further, it is preferable that the air bag 1 has an air storage tank 5 at an air discharge destination and the air storage tank 5 and the air pump 2 are connected. With such a configuration, the relatively high-temperature air discharged from the air bag 1 is stored in the air storage tank 5, and the relatively high-temperature air stored in the air storage tank 5 is again heated by the heating unit 4. The air can be heated and supplied to the air bag 1. In this case, the air can be heated to a predetermined temperature in a short time upon heating the air in the heating unit 4.
[0011]
Further, it is preferable that a pipe 6 a from the air storage tank 5 and a pipe 6 b from the outside air are connected to the air pump 2 via a valve 7. With such a configuration, high-temperature air and low-temperature outside air stored in the air storage tank 5 can be selected as the air supplied from the air pump 2. Air massage at different temperatures can be easily selected, such as taking in relatively high temperature air from the air storage tank 5 into the air pump 2 when massaging, and taking in outside air into the air pump 2 when cooling the leg B with cooling air. Things.
[0012]
Further, the temperature sensor 8 is provided on the surface of the air bag 1 which is in contact with the leg B of the human body A, and the heating unit 4 is controlled so that the value of the temperature sensor 8 is not more than the set upper limit and not less than the set lower limit. It is preferable to provide a control unit 9 for controlling. With such a configuration, the temperature of the body of the leg B of the human body A at the part to be air-massed is measured, and the body temperature of the leg B is set accurately to the target temperature. Can be heated air massage.
[0013]
Further, it is preferable that a portion of the air bladder 1 except for a surface in contact with the leg B of the human body A is covered with the heat insulating material 10. With such a configuration, heat can be prevented from escaping to the outside.
[0014]
In addition, it is preferable to provide a control unit that controls the operation of warming and cooling the human body A by turning on and off the heating unit 4 alternately. With such a configuration, the muscles at the massage site of the leg to be air-massed are relaxed and blood circulation is improved.
[0015]
Further, it is preferable to use a heat exchanger 11 composed of a Peltier element as the heating unit 4 and provide tanks 12 and 13 for storing hot air and cold air obtained by the heat exchanger 11 in advance. As described above, by adopting the heat exchanger 11 in which the heat absorbing side heat exchanging part is provided on one side of the Peltier element and the heat radiating side heat exchanging part is provided on the other side, the preheated air and the cooled air are used. Are stored in the tanks 12 and 13, respectively, so that hot air and cold air can be instantaneously switched. Further, the heat exchanger 11 itself has two functions of warm and cool.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the massage machine 3. The massage machine 3 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a chair-type massage machine 3, which is connected to a chair body 14 with a backrest 15, a seat 16 connected to a lower portion of the backrest 15, and a front end of the seat 16. It supports the leg massage part 17 and is further provided with a head contact part 18 extending at the upper end of the backrest part 15. The backrest portion 15, the seat portion 16, the leg massage portion 17, and the head contact portion 18 are connected so that the angles can be freely adjusted.
[0018]
The backrest unit 15 has a built-in massage mechanism unit 19 for performing a kneading operation and a hitting operation. The driving source 20 and the kneading balls 21 move in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-back direction along the back side of the backrest 15 to perform kneading and hit massage on the back C of the human body A.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the leg massage part 17 has a frame part 22 for both side walls and a center part 23 for the center wall which are directed in the front-rear direction on the upper surface part. A leg receiving recess 24 which is opened forward, backward and upward is formed between the frame portion 22 and the side wall frame portion 22, respectively. In other words, both legs B of the person sitting on the seat 16 can be supported by being inserted into the two leg receiving recesses 24 one by one.
[0020]
Air bladders 1 are provided on both sides of each leg-receiving recess 24 so as to face left and right, respectively. An air pump 2 is connected to the air bag 1 through a pipe 25. The air bag 1 is inflated by supplying air to the air bag 1 by the air pump 2, so that the air bag 1 is inflated on both sides of the leg receiving recess 24. The paired air bladders 1 wrap the legs B (one leg) of the human body A put in the leg receiving recesses 24 from both sides so as to squeeze them. By opening the valve 27 provided and exhausting the pressurized air from the air bag 1, the paired air bags 1 that have pressed the leg B from both sides are contracted, and the air bag 1 thus formed a pair. Is inflated and contracted to air massage the leg B of the human body A from both sides.
[0021]
A heating unit 4 is provided in the middle of a pipe 25 connecting the air bag 1 and the air pump 2, and the air supplied from the air pump 2 is heated by the heating unit 4 and heated air is supplied to the air bag 1. Is supplied.
[0022]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 28 denotes a pipe for introducing air (outside air in the present embodiment) into the air pump 2.
[0023]
Thus, in the present invention, both legs B of the person sitting on the seat 16 are put into the two leg insertion recesses 24, each of which is one foot smaller, and the air is bled by the pair of air bags 1 as described above. The massage is performed. By heating the air supplied from the air pump 2 by the heating unit 4, the heated air is supplied to the paired air bags 1 contacting both sides of the leg B. And the legs B are wrapped in the paired air bags 1 on both sides heated by the heated air, and the air-massed leg portions are surrounded by the paired air bags 1. The air massage can be performed while improving the blood flow at the leg portion heated and air massaged.
[0024]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, by providing the heating unit 4 between the air bag 1 and the air pump 2, the air heated by the heating unit 4 passes through the air bag 1 without directly passing through the air pump 2. There is no influence of the heat of the air supplied and heated by the heating unit 4 on the driving unit of the air pump 2, so that not only there is no heat loss but also the life of the air pump 2 can be extended. Things.
[0025]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the air bag 1 has an air storage tank 5 at the air discharge destination and the air storage tank 5 and the air pump 2 so that the relatively high-temperature air exhausted from the air bag 1 can be circulated and used. And are connected.
[0026]
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, an end of an exhaust pipe 26 provided with a valve 27 for exhausting air from the air bag 1 in the air storage tank 5 and a pipe 28 for introducing air into the air pump 2. Air pump 2 → Piping 25 with heating section 4 → Air bag 1 → Piping for exhaust 26 with valve 27 → Air storage tank 5 → Piping 28 for taking in air → An air circulation channel called an air pump 2 is formed. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the air storage tank 5 is provided with a valve that opens when the air storage tank 5 becomes a negative pressure and communicates the outside with the inside of the air storage tank 5.
[0027]
Then, the air supplied from the air pump 2 is heated by the heating unit 4, and the heated air is supplied to the paired air bladders 1 to inflate the paired air bladders 1. By heating and pressing the air bag 1 so as to wrap the legs B from both sides, the air pump 2 is stopped by a signal from the control unit, and the valve 27 is opened by a signal from the control unit. Relatively high-temperature air (that is, relatively high-temperature air whose temperature is slightly lower than that at the time of being supplied to the air bag 1 by heating the leg portion B) is stored in the air storage tank 5 from the resulting air bag 1. Next, the air pump 2 is operated by a signal from the control unit, and the valve 27 is closed by a signal from the control unit. Then, the operation of the air pump 2 causes the inside of the air storage tank 5 to become a negative pressure, so that the valve provided in the air storage tank 5 is opened, and the relatively high temperature air stored in the air storage tank 5 is supplied to the air pump. 2, the air supplied from the air pump 2 is heated by the heating unit 4, and the heated high-temperature air is supplied to the pair of air bladders 1 that are in contact with both sides of the leg B and inflated. The air massage is performed from both sides while the leg B is wrapped in a pair of air bags 1 on both sides heated by the heated air and heated from the surroundings. As a result, the relatively high-temperature air exhausted from the air bag 1 is stored in the air storage tank 5, and the relatively high-temperature air stored in the air storage tank 5 is heated again by the heating unit 4 to the air bag 1. Can be supplied. Therefore, when heating the air in the heating unit 4, the temperature can be raised to a predetermined temperature in a short time, and the thermal energy can be reused without waste.
[0028]
Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 described above, and thus the description of the same configuration is omitted, but in this embodiment, the piping from the air storage tank 5 to the air pump 2 is used. It is characterized in that 6a and a pipe 6b from outside air are connected via a valve 7.
[0029]
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a valve 7 for switching a flow path is provided in a pipe 28 for taking in air into the air pump 2, and this valve 7 and the air storage tank 5 are connected by a pipe 6a. 7 is connected to a piping 6b for taking in outside air. As described above, in the present embodiment, the pipe 6 a from the air storage tank 5 and the pipe 6 b from the outside air are connected to the air pump 2 via the valve 7.
[0030]
When the leg B is subjected to the heated air massage, the valve 7 is switched and controlled to take in relatively high-temperature air from the air storage tank 5 to the air pump 2, and further, the heating unit 4 heats the air to a target temperature. The heated air is supplied to the paired air bladders 1 to inflate the paired air bladders 1 and pressed from both sides of the leg B, and the paired air bladders 1 are heated by the heated air. A heated air massage is performed by pressing from both sides while heating from the surroundings as if to wrap. On the other hand, when the leg B is subjected to cooling air massage, the outside air is introduced into the air pump 2 from the pipe 6b by controlling the switching of the valve 7, and the cold outside air is supplied to the paired air bags 1 without being heated by the heating unit 4. The supplied air bladders 1 are inflated and compressed from both sides of the leg B, and wrapped in the paired air bladders 1 on both sides cooled by the outside air, and compressed from both sides while cooling from the surroundings. And perform a cooling air massage.
[0031]
This makes it possible to switch between the heating air massage and the cooling air massage for the leg B, and to cool and heat the leg B in a short time, thereby obtaining a high massage effect in a relaxed state and recovering from fatigue. Is effective.
[0032]
Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a temperature sensor 8 is provided on a surface of the air bag 1 that contacts the leg B of the human body A. The temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 8 is transmitted to the control unit 9, and the control unit 9 controls the heating unit 4 so that the value measured by the temperature sensor 8 is equal to or less than the set upper limit and equal to or greater than the set lower limit. I do. By this, the temperature of the body of the leg B of the human body A at the part to be air-massed is measured, and the temperature of the body of the leg B is accurately set to be a target temperature, thereby enabling effective heating air massage. It is.
[0033]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a portion of the air bladder 1 except for the surface that comes into contact with the human body A is covered with the heat insulating material 10. In FIG. 6 (a), a heat insulating material 10 is provided on the bottom surface and both side portions of the leg massage portion 17, whereby a part or all of the portion of the air bag 1 which is not in contact with the leg B is directly or indirectly. Is covered with the heat insulating material 10 so that heat cannot escape to the outside. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, the entire portion of the air bag 1 that is not the surface in contact with the leg B may be covered with the heat insulating material 10.
[0034]
Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the heating unit 4 is turned on to supply hot air to the air bag 1 to warm the leg B of the human body A, and the air is supplied to the air bag 1 with the heating unit 4 turned off. The control section controls the operation to cool the leg B of the human body A alternately. FIG. 7 shows an example of the control. When the air pressure in the air bag 1 is high, the heating unit 4 is turned on to heat the leg B, and the air pressure in the air bag 1 is reduced. Sometimes, the heating unit 4 is turned off to lower the temperature. As described above, the air massage is performed while the operation of warming and cooling the leg B is alternately performed by turning the heating unit 4 on and off, so that the muscles of the region of the human body A where the leg B is air-massed are released. This improves blood circulation and increases the massage effect.
[0035]
Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a heat exchanger 11 composed of a Peltier element is used as the heating unit 4, and tanks 12 and 13 for storing hot air and cold air obtained by the heat exchanger 11 are provided.
[0036]
That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a heat exchanger 11, which is composed of a Peltier element, tanks 12 and 13, and a control valve 30 are arranged in order from the upstream side in a pipe 28 for taking in air into the air pump 2. The pipe 28 connects the heat exchanger 11 to the tanks 12 and 13 at a portion connecting the heat exchanger 11 and the heat exchanger 11a of the heat exchanger 11 and the tank 12 for storing high-temperature air. 11 is divided into two pipes 28b for connecting the heat-absorbing-side heat exchange section 11b to the tank 13 for storing low-temperature air, and the portion connecting the tanks 12 and 13 to the control valve 30 stores high-temperature air. A pipe 28c connecting the control valve 30 to the control valve 30 and a pipe 28d connecting the control valve 30 and the tank 13 for storing low-temperature air. By adopting the heat exchanger 11 in which the heat absorbing side heat exchanging part 11b is provided on one side of the Peltier element and the heat radiating side heat exchanging part 11a is provided on the other side, the preheated air and the cooled air are used. The stored air is stored in tanks 12 and 13, respectively, and hot air and cold air can be instantaneously switched. Also, since the heat exchanger 11 itself has two functions of heating and cooling, there are advantages of light weight, compactness and low cost.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of air bags contacting both sides of a human body leg, and the pair of air bags are inflated and contracted by supplying and discharging air. In the massage machine equipped with an air pump, a heating unit for heating the air supplied to the paired air bags is provided, so that the legs of the human body are positioned between the paired air bags, and the heating unit In addition to supplying the air heated by the air to the paired air bags and inflating them to air massage the legs of the human body from both sides, the legs are wrapped in the air bags on both sides heated by the heated air The area of the leg that is air-massed is heated from the surroundings, and air massage can be performed while improving the blood flow in the area of the leg that is air-massed. Effectively performed while heating the over-di site from the surrounding, in which fatigue recovery effect of the leg portion can be effectively exerted.
[0038]
Further, in the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, since the heating unit is provided between the air bag and the air pump, the heated air is supplied to the air pump. It is supplied directly to the air bladder without passing directly through it, so that the heated air massage can be stably performed without affecting the driving section of the air pump, and the life of the air pump is prolonged.
[0039]
According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the invention, an air storage tank is provided at the air discharge destination of the air bag, and the air storage tank and the air pump are provided. Is connected, the relatively high-temperature air discharged from the air bag is stored in the air storage tank, and the relatively high-temperature air stored in this air storage tank is heated again by the heating unit to be stored in the air bag. In this case, in heating the air in the heating unit, the temperature can be raised to a predetermined temperature in a short time, and the heat energy can be effectively reused and the capability of the heating unit may be small. is there.
[0040]
Further, in the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 3, since a pipe from the air storage tank and a pipe from outside air are connected to the air pump via a valve. High temperature air and low temperature outside air stored in the air storage tank can be selected as the air supplied from the air pump. When the air is taken into the air pump and the legs are cooled by the air massage, the air massage at different temperatures can be easily selected, such as taking in the outside air into the air pump. It is possible to further enhance the air massage effect on the legs.
[0041]
Further, in the invention according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, a temperature sensor is provided on a surface of the air bag that contacts the leg of the human body, and the value of the sensor is set. Since the control unit for controlling the heating unit is provided so as to be equal to or less than the upper limit value and equal to or greater than the set lower limit value, the temperature of the actual leg of the human body at the part to be air-massed is measured, and the target leg is measured. By setting the actual body temperature to be exactly the desired temperature, the heating air massage can be performed effectively.
[0042]
In addition, in the invention according to claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, since the portion of the air bag except for the surface in contact with the leg of the human body is covered with a heat insulating material, Heat is not escaping to the outside, and the air massage can be performed by effectively wrapping the legs.
[0043]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the operation of heating and cooling the human body by turning on and off the heating unit alternately. The air massage is performed while wrapping the leg and heating it.The air massage and the cooling of the leg are alternately repeated to release the muscle tension at the massage part of the leg to improve blood circulation and to improve the leg more effectively. Air massage of the part can be done.
[0044]
Further, in the invention according to claim 8, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, a heat exchanger composed of a Peltier element is used as a heating unit, and hot air previously obtained by the heat exchanger is used. Since a tank for storing each cool air is provided, that is, by adopting a heat exchanger in which a heat absorbing side heat exchanging section is arranged on one side of the Peltier element and a heat dissipating side heat exchanging section is arranged on the other side, Preheated air and cooled air are stored in tanks, respectively, and hot and cold air can be switched instantly. In addition, the heat exchanger itself has two functions of hot and cold, so it is lightweight. It is possible to achieve compactness, compactness, and low cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of a massage machine provided with the above air heating device.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a main part of a massage machine provided with an air heating device of another embodiment of the above.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a main part of a massage machine including an air heating device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a main part of a massage machine provided with an air heating device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6A is an explanatory view of a main part of a massage machine provided with an air heating device according to still another embodiment of the above, and FIG. 6B is still another cross-sectional view.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between driving of a heater of a heating unit and air pressure in an air bag in still another embodiment of the above.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a main part of a massage machine including an air heating device according to still another embodiment of the above.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air bag 2 Air pump 3 Massager 4 Heating part 5 Air storage tank 6a Pipe 6b Pipe 7 Valve 8 Temperature sensor 9 Control part 10 Insulation material 11 Heat exchanger 12 Tank 13 Tank

Claims (8)

In a massager equipped with a pair of air bags that contact both sides of the human body legs and an air pump that expands and contracts the paired air bags by supplying and discharging air, A massage machine equipped with an air heating device, comprising a heating unit for heating supplied air. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is provided between the air bag and the air pump. 3. A massage machine having an air heating device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an air storage tank at an air discharge destination of the air bag and connecting the air storage tank and an air pump. The massage machine having an air heating device according to claim 3, wherein a pipe from an air storage tank and a pipe from outside air are connected to an air pump via a valve. A temperature sensor is provided on the surface of the air bag that contacts the leg of the human body, and a control unit that controls the heating unit so that the sensor value is equal to or less than a set upper limit and equal to or greater than a set lower limit is provided. A massage machine comprising the air heating device according to claim 1. The massage machine provided with an air heating device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the air bag other than a surface in contact with a leg of a human body is covered with a heat insulating material. The massage machine having an air heating device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to control so as to alternately repeat a warming operation and a cooling operation by turning on and off the heating unit. 2. The air heating device according to claim 1, wherein a heat exchanger formed of a Peltier element is used as the heating unit, and a tank for storing hot air and cold air obtained in advance by the heat exchanger is provided. Massage machine.

Images